Most of you know by now, I am vegan. Vegan is defined as: the practice of eliminating the use by human beings of non-human animal products. AKA - no dairy!
I love a jaunt to the local coffee bar. I love the atmosphere. I love the camaraderie. In fact, I've chosen a drink that pretty much feels my inner spirit of a coffee drinker...a soy steamer. You heard it correctly, steamed soy milk. Yes, it's quite simple, steamed soy.
If I was to go into the grocery store and buy a half gallon, it would be $2.37. Yes, you heard me correctly, $2.37 for a half gallon but on my many travels particularly from Portland, Oregon to Spokane, Washington - many times between 2007 and 2009, I've ordered these scrumptious drinks and have been appalled and somewhat amazed at the price difference I've been quoted at the counters of Starbucks by the Barista's for a grande and sometimes a tall soy steamer.
Most of the time, when I pull up to the drive thru, like the other day at a Post Falls, Idaho Starbucks, the person on the other end says, "huh, what, can you repeat that?!" Granted, it's not a coffee or a half frap, minus whip with a shot of decaf double and a sprinkle of chocolate but heck it's a soy steamer. Again, fairly simple. When I drove up to the cashier, I couldn't believe my receipt, $4.37. WOW. Those Idaho folks, they know how to maintain their dairy farms.
The Barista always says, "so, you'd like a soy latte?" "No." I'd say, "I would like a soy steamer." Sometimes, when I'm feeling frisky, I order a soy steamer with a shot of sugar free cinnamon dolce. That really get's them. Most of the time I hear, "so, you'd like a soy with a double pump of a cinnamon dolce latte." Again, I repeat, "no."
So, I decided to test the water of our local Starbucks to see what they charge for a tall soy steamer. I think you'll find it comical and somewhat sad. BTW, I have the receipts.
Portland Starbucks - $2.45
Hillsboro Starbucks - $3.15
The Dalles Starbucks - $2.75
Kennewick Starbucks - $3.15
Ritzville Starbucks - $.75 (YES, .75 cents)
Spokane Starbucks - $2.45 but it can range in this city from $1.50 to $3.50
Liberty Lake Starbucks - $2.45
Post Falls Starbucks - $4.37
